Mural Fragment Depicting a Ritual for the Renewal of Agricultural Fertility

Date

500 - 600

Creator

Teotihuacan was a beautifully painted city, with stucco murals decorating many of the buildings. The murals are a primary source for understanding the religion and social organization of the site. This fragment was part of a cycle painted on the interior walls of an aristocratic palace. It depicts a dancing rain priest wearing a headdress and costume. A speech scroll emanating from his mouth contains seashells, suggesting he is praying for rain. He holds an incense bag similar to one carried by Chahk, the Maya rain god. Water and flowers fall from his other hand. This mural fragment is similar to one at the Art Institute of Chicago, indicating that they likely came from the same palace.